Ancestry and family (le lapa) connections were very important to social structure of Basotho. The courtship process would start with the boy's father proposing to the girl's parents. If they agree the boy himself come to visit the girl with few friends. After all have been done in Basotho traditional marriages were confirmed by the transer of bohali bride wealth from men's family. This signifies that the women had now become part of man's clan and that thier children would be born with his name. The bohali was usually fixed ten (10) cattle (lehomo) and some goats or sheep but the payment was rarely made in full. This all was done in Basotho because they wanted to strengthen relationship between two families (malapa a). In Basotho linyalo (wedding) was held shortly after the marriage was arranged.
Great information on BaSotho people amd their marriage activities but why was it rare to pay bride price in full? Otherwise this is great
ReplyDelete@shelton ndlovu I think the reason why they didn't pay the bride in full is because: when a woman gets married she will be herself with no kids, and no one will be knowing whether she can conceive or not. In Sotho culture the bride price is a token of appreciation for the children. So the man's family pays part of the price and "hang" to the other part till the wife bears children. Then if she bears children they pay up the remaining part of the price. Hope this helps.
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